Tool for loading a muzzle loading firearm

ABSTRACT

A tool for loading a muzzle loading firearm is provided having a barrel clamp for attaching the tool near the tip of the barrel of the firearm. The tool includes a plunger having a concave shaped tip insertion end shaped to conform to a spherical ball firearm projectile. The tool is operable by a handle to forcibly press the projectile into the barrel of the gun. The tool uses lever principles to multiply the force applied to the plunger and projectile, reducing the strain and effort of the user in loading a projectile to a muzzle loaded firearm.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate to muzzle loading firearms and, morespecifically, to tools for loading a projectile ball or bullet into thebarrel of a muzzle loading firearm.

BACKGROUND

Muzzle loading firearms represent an older and simpler firearmtechnology utilizing a straight in-line one shot firing design. Muzzleloading firearms use components such as black powder, small lead ballsand a primer. When the trigger of the firearm is pulled and the hammerdrops, a spark is created which detonates the black powder, theexplosive force propelling the ball or projectile outwards along thebarrel. Loading the primer is one of the more difficult tasks toaccomplish as it must be inserted precisely to function. As the primeris small in size, individuals with large fingers may have troublesetting the primer into position. Another problem is the difficulty inloading the ball into the barrel. Elderly and/or handicapped individualshave difficulty completing this step of the sequence, especially ifsignificant force is required to start the ball in the barrel.

Therefore, a tool for loading a muzzle loading firearm that clamps ontothe barrel of the firearm and provides a lever actuated plunger tomultiply user applied force to urge the projectile into the barrel, atool that reduces the force required of a user to load the projectileinto the barrel, a tool that enables the firearm loading task to becompleted without unnecessary strain to the muscles of the hands,forearm and fingers, a tool that is simple and intuitive to operate,such a tool for loading a muzzle loading firearm would be useful andnovel.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, various embodiments of the tool for loading a muzzleloading firearm consist of one complete unit with moveable parts. Anelongated handle has a first end adapted to be grasped and operated by ahuman hand and an opposing second end on the handle. The handle is madeof substantially rigid material, preferably a metallic material whichresists flexing and bending when a bending force is applied. The toolincludes a gun barrel attachment member comprising a hinged rod having abarrel clamp hingeably secured to one end of the substantially rigidhinged rod, and the opposing end of the hinged rod hingeably secured tothe elongated handle by a hinge pin at the second end of the handle. Thebarrel clamp comprises two spaced apart semicircular arms. The arms areformed to cooperatively engage and clamp to an outside surface of thebarrel of the firearm to secure the tool onto the barrel. The barrelclamp is provided with an adjustable means to compress the first andsecond halves of the barrel clamp around the barrel of the firearm tosecurely mount the tool to the barrel. A muzzle loading member ishingeably secured to a mid portion of the elongated handle at a positionbetween the second end having the barrel clamp and the opposing endwhich is operated by a human hand. The muzzle loading member comprises aconnector member having one end hingeably secured to the elongatedhandle and an opposing second end to which a plunger is secured. Theplunger is sized for insertion in the barrel of a muzzle loadingfirearm. The plunger has a gun barrel insertion tip with a concaveindent, the concave indent sized to rest against and transmit force fromthe plunger to the ball or bullet projectile to forceably load theprojectile into the gun barrel without damaging the projectile.Projectiles are often made of a soft metal such as lead and hence theprojectile can be easily deformed or damaged.

Using the tool according to the present inventive disclosure, the muzzleloading firearm is loaded by compressibly clamping the tool's barrelclamp onto the barrel of the firearm. The muzzle loading tool is nowfixed to the barrel of the firearm. A ball projectile is then placedinto the tip of the barrel of the firearm. The handle of the muzzleloading tool is then raised to place the plunger tip into contact withthe surface of the ball projectile. The handle of the muzzle loadingtool is then operated to apply pressure to the plunger to urge the ballprojectile down into the barrel of the firearm. As the handle acts as alever with the fulcrum fixed by the barrel clamp to the gun barrel, theforce applied by the user is multiplied and delivered to the plunger forurging the projectile into the barrel.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures herein theadjustable means of compressing the first and second halves of thebarrel clamp onto the gun barrel comprises a threaded bolt and a wingnut, the bolt sized and adapted to be received through the hole in thefirst arm, through the hole in the hinged rod and through the hole inthe second arm. The wing nut has threads sized and adapted to bethreadably received onto the bolt wherein tightening the wing nut ontothe bolt compresses the first and second halves of the barrel clamp ontothe barrel of the firearm to secure the tool to the firearm.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures herein theplunger is cylindrical in shape and has a diameter sized to permitinsertion into the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures herein theplunger has a threaded upper end and the connector member has a threadedsocket sized and adapted to permit the plunger to be threadably receivedinto the socket, securing the plunger to the connector member. Thethread connection permits the plunger to be changed out from the tool asneeded. For example, muzzle loaded firearms have a variety of differingbarrel bore diameters. The threaded connection between the plunger andthe connector member permits the plunger to be changed out for anotherplunger of a suitable diameter for the firearm being loaded.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures herein theplunger is a copper or copper alloy material.

In at least one embodiment of the inventive disclosures herein thehandle has a length of 9 inches. The barrel clamp has a length of 5inches. The plunger and connector member has an overall combined lengthof 4½ inches.

These and other objects of the invention made herein will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification andassociated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show a form of the invention that is presently preferred;however, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shownin the drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of one embodiment of a tool for loading amuzzle loading firearm in accordance with one embodiment of theinventive disclosures herein.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of one embodiment of a tool for loading amuzzle loading firearm in accordance with one embodiment of theinventive disclosures herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In preparation for explaining the details of the present inventivedisclosure, it is to be understood by the reader that the invention isnot limited to the presented details of the construction, materials andembodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as theinvention concepts are clearly capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed and realized in various ways by applying the disclosurepresented herein.

Turning now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2:

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of one embodiment of a tool 1 for loading amuzzle loading firearm in accordance with one embodiment of theinventive disclosures herein. FIG. 2 depicts a side view of oneembodiment of a tool 1 for loading a muzzle loading firearm inaccordance with one embodiment of the inventive disclosures herein. Thetool 1 is provided with an elongated handle 2 having a first end 3 sizedand shaped for grasping and operation by a human hand. An opposingsecond end of the handle 4 is hingeably connected to a hinged rod 9 by apin 14 rivet or other connecting element. A barrel clamp is provided forcompressively clamping the muzzle loading tool 1 to the barrel of amuzzle loading firearm (not shown). The barrel clamp comprises twoopposing semi-circularly curved arms 12 and 13 that are shaped and sizedto clamp around a gun barrel. The curved arms 12 and 13 are hingeablyattach to the second end 11 of the hinged rod by a conventional threadedbolt 15 and wing nut (not shown). The bolt is sized and adapted to bereceived through the hole in the first arm 12, then through the hole inthe hinged rod and through the hole in the second arm 13. The wing nutis threadably tightened on the bolt to compressibly clamp the first andsecond halves or arms (12 and 13) of the barrel clamp onto the barrel ofthe firearm to secure the tool to the firearm. The barrel clamp arms (12and 13) are free to pivot about the second end 11 of the hinged rod 9.For a better understanding of the shape of the arms, the arms (12 and13) are illustrated as rotated approximately 180 degrees about the bolt15 from the position they would be in during use of the tool 1. Whenusing the tool, arms (12 and 13) are positioned towards the plunger 6when clamped to the barrel of the firearm. The tool 1 includes a muzzleloading member comprising a connector member 5 having a hole at itsupper end. A cylindrical plunger 6 is secured to the connector member 5.The plunger 6 is sized for insertion into the barrel of a muzzle loadingfirearm. The plunger 6 includes a gun barrel insertion tip 7 at its freeend, the gun barrel insertion tip 7 includes a concave indent sized toconform to and rest against a cylindrical muzzle loading ball projectileor bullet (not shown) without damaging the projectile. A first pin 8hingeably secures the upper portion of the connector member 5 to thehandle 2 between the first end 2 and second end 3 of the handle.

In use, a muzzle loading firearm is loaded by clamping the barrel clamp(12 and 13) to the barrel of the firearm such that the handle 2 isplaced above the projectile exit opening in the gun barrel and theplunger 6 is alignable for insertion into the gun barrel. A ballprojectile is then placed into the tip or projectile exit opening of thebarrel of the firearm. The handle 2 is then raised to place the plungertip 7 into contact with the ball projectile. Downward pressure is thenapplied at the first end 3 of the handle to move the first end of thehandle and the plunger tip 7 downwards, urging the ball projectile intothe barrel of the firearm.

The discussed construction, illustrations and sequence of operation isfor one embodiment of the invention, but is in no way limiting to otherembodiments. The operating modes may be changed and enhanced withoutdeviating from the intention of this inventive disclosure.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments and certain variants thereof have beendescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitableembodiments may be utilized and that logical, material, and mechanicalchanges may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. To avoid unnecessary detail, the description omits certaininformation known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detaileddescription is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specificforms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to coversuch alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonablyincluded within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A tool for loading a muzzle loading firearm comprising: an elongatedhandle having a first end adapted to be grasped by a human hand and anopposing second end; a muzzle loading member comprising: a connectormember having a hole in an upper portion of the connector member; and aplunger secured to a lower portion of the connector member, the plungersized for insertion into a barrel of the muzzle loading firearm, theplunger having a gun barrel insertion tip with a concave indent, theconcave indent sized to rest against a spherical muzzle loading ballprojectile without damaging the projectile; first pin received in thehole of the connector member and through the handle, hingeably securingthe upper portion of the connector member to the handle between thefirst and second ends; a gun barrel attachment member comprising: ahinged rod having a first end and an opposing second end having a hole;a barrel clamp comprising: a semicircular first arm having a hole at oneend; an opposing semicircular second arm having a hole at one end, thefirst arm and second arm sized for cooperatively clamping to an outsidesurface of the barrel of the firearm; and a means of hingeably andcompressably attaching the barrel clamp to the second end of the hingedrod, wherein the attachment means is adapted to compress the first andsecond halves of the barrel clamp together around the barrel of thefirearm to secure the tool to the firearm; a second pin hingeablysecuring the first end of the hinged rod to the second end of thehandle, wherein the muzzle loading firearm is loaded by clamping thebarrel clamp to the barrel of the firearm, placing the ball projectileinto tip of the barrel of the firearm, raising the handle to place theplunger tip into contact with the ball projectile, applying pressure tomove the first end of the handle downwards to urge the ball projectileinto the barrel of the firearm.
 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein themeans of hingeably and compressably attaching the barrel clamp comprisesa threaded bolt and a wing nut, the bolt sized and adapted to bereceived through the hole in the first arm, through the hole in thehinged rod and through the hole in the second arm, the wing nut havingthreads sized and adapted to be threadably received onto the bolt,wherein tightening the wing nut onto the bolt compresses the first andsecond halves of the barrel clamp onto the barrel of the firearm tosecure the tool to the firearm.
 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein theplunger is a cylindrical plunger.
 4. The tool of claim 3, wherein theplunger has a threaded upper end and wherein the plunger is threadablyreceived and secured into a threaded socket in the connector member,wherein the plunger may be unscrewed and changed out and replaced withanother plunger.
 5. The tool of claim 3, wherein the plunger comprisescopper.
 6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the handle has a length of 9inches; the barrel clamp has a length of 5 inches; and the plunger andconnector member has an overall combined length of 4½ inches.